Port & River — C. 1904
Banner, trade union banner
Banner of the 'Amalgamated Stevedores Labour Protection league' Branch No. 6. This banner was created to commemorate the founding of the trade union following the Great Dock Strike of 1889. The large painted panel depicts a London stevedore shaking hands with an Australian 'Wharfie' or dock worker, in front of the figure of Britannia. The image recalls the financial support given to the London strikers by their comrades in Australia during the strike itself.
In 2001 during conservation work it was discovered that underneath the apparent reverse of the banner was the original back, with a large painted panel depicting the SS Montezuma. This ship was launched in Glasgow in 1899 for the Elder Dempster Line, but only began her service from London in 1904 - which may be a clue to the date of the banner.
- Category:
- Port & River
- Object ID:
- 2006.25
- Object name:
- banner, trade union banner
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Tutill, George
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- Production date:
- c. 1904
- Material:
- damask woven silk, paint
- Measurements/duration:
- L 3150 mm, H 2900 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- Museum of London Docklands: First Port of Empire
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.